Glanzner v. State, Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement

835 S.W.2d 386, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 959
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 26, 1992
Docket59151, 60773
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 835 S.W.2d 386 (Glanzner v. State, Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Glanzner v. State, Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement, 835 S.W.2d 386, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 959 (Mo. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

GRIMM, Judge.

In this case of first impression, we are called upon to resolve conflicting child custody decrees from California and Missouri. The California decree granted custody to mother; a later Missouri decree granted custody to father. Under the federal Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA), we are required to hold that the California decree is not entitled to interstate enforcement because Missouri was the child’s “home state.” We therefore deny mother’s petition for writ of habeas corpus and quash our temporary order.

This court consolidated a companion case which was pending on appeal. In that case, the State appeals from the trial court's judgment reversing a decision of the Department of Social Services which ordered father to pay spousal and child support arrearage of $11,118.00. We affirm the child support order and reverse the spousal support order.

I. Background

Suzanne E. Glanzner and Keith W. Glanzner are the mother and father of Bradley Carl Glanzner. Gary and Paula Glanzner are Bradley’s paternal grandparents.

Mother and father were married in Illinois on September 5, 1981. Father was then in military service and the parties lived in Tennessee. Bradley was born in St. Louis on August 13, 1982.

Mother and, after his birth, child, lived with paternal grandparents in St. Louis from June, 1982, to November, 1983; father was stationed in Okinawa during that time.

From November, 1983, to January, 1985, mother, father, and child all lived in California where father was stationed.' Mother had lived in California for seven years prior to her marriage.

*388 In January, 1985, mother, father, and child came to Missouri. All three of them resided in Missouri until mother and child returned to California on October 29, 1985.

On December 18, 1985, mother filed a petition for legal separation and custody 1 in California. Father was personally served January 13,1986. He filed a motion to quash service on the grounds that California should not exercise jurisdiction over the child custody issue.

In the meantime, on January 10, 1986, father filed a petition for dissolution in St. Louis County. Mother was apparently served on July 17, 1986.

Proceedings continued in California. On June 4, 1986, the California court conducted a hearing on father’s motion to quash. The hearing included a phone consultation with a judge in St. Louis County. 2

On June 18, 1986, the California court found that “[t]he state in which the minor child resided for 6 consecutive months prior to the filing of the petition was Missouri.” However, the court noted the child had now resided in California for 7 months. Although child had family members in both states, the court found “California has the most significant contacts with the minor child.” As a result, the court held that under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA), California was the proper jurisdiction in which to adjudicate the claim. A formal order incorporating that finding was entered July 2, 1986.

On August 12, 1986, following a hearing, the California court granted custody of child to mother “pending trial or until further order of this court.” Father was ordered to pay $253 per month child support, as well as $151 per month spousal support, commencing August 15, 1986. Father was given reasonable visitation rights with child within California.

On November 3, 1986, the California court dissolved the marriage of the parties. Mother was granted custody of the child, and father was granted reasonable visitation rights in California. In addition, father was ordered to pay child support and spousal support.

In the St. Louis County action filed January 10, 1986, mother filed a special appearance and objection to jurisdiction about August 15, 1986. She attached a copy of the June 4, 1986 order wherein the California court assumed jurisdiction over the child custody issue. On September 5, 1986, the St. Louis County court overruled mother’s objections to jurisdiction. A default decree of dissolution was granted on September 26, 1986; the decree gave custody of child to father, and reasonable visitation rights to mother.

From October 29, 1985, until the summer of 1991, mother had continuous physical custody of child. Father admits he has not visited the child since that date. However, he claims he has attempted to exercise his rights, but mother has interfered with his efforts by “frequently moving, changing her address and not apprising [him] as to the whereabouts of the minor child.”

In the spring of 1991, paternal grandparents visited mother and child in California. After returning to Missouri, grandmother phoned mother and asked if child could come to Missouri for a visit during the summer vacation. After receiving assurances from grandparents they would return the child, mother consented. Grandparents purchased a round trip airline ticket for child and sent it to mother. Child flew from California to St. Louis on July 27, 1991; he was to return on September 1, 1991. 3

Child did not return on September 1. On September 13, mother filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus with this court. Following a brief hearing, this court ordered *389 custody of child returned to mother until further order. Our order was conditioned on mother filing a bond, which she filed.

In addition, we consolidated the appeal of the Division of Child Support Enforcement. That appeal involves the trial court’s order finding the California court lacked jurisdiction to enter the custody and support order.

II. Dissolution Proceedings

In his answer to the petition for writ of habeas corpus, father claims he is entitled to custody of child pursuant to the St. Louis County decree of dissolution granted September 26, 1986. He contends the California orders “were contrary to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (Section 452.440, R.S.Mo.1986 et seq.) and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (28 U.S.C. § 1738A).”

In 1973, California adopted the UCCJA with some modifications. Cal.Civil Code §§ 5150-5174 (West 1983). Missouri adopted the act in 1978, also with some modifications. Sections 452.440-452.550, RSMo 1986.

Under the California and Missouri versions of the UCCJA, a court has jurisdiction to make a child custody determination if two conditions are met. First, the child and at least one parent has a significant connection with the state; second, substantial evidence concerning the child’s present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships is available in the state. Cal.Civil Code § 5152(l)(b) (West 1983) and § 452.450.1(2), RSMo 1986. In the summer of 1986, the California court determined it had jurisdiction because mother, child, and maternal grandmother were in California, as well as “neutral third parties from the school” who could testify.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

J.M.W. v. T.I.Z.
2011 UT 38 (Utah Supreme Court, 2011)
Infante de Arce v. Montalvo Mulero
165 P.R. Dec. 757 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 2005)
Yanira Ivelisse Infante De Arce v. Víctor Luis Montalvo Mulero
2005 TSPR 139 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 2005)
State Ex Rel. Ferrara v. Neill
165 S.W.3d 539 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2005)
Mahoney v. Mahoney
162 S.W.3d 512 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2005)
Marriage of Russell v. Ruth
115 S.W.3d 404 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2003)
Upon the Petition of Jorgensen
627 N.W.2d 550 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 2001)
In Re Jorgensen
627 N.W.2d 550 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 2001)
In Re Marriage of Dooley
15 S.W.3d 747 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 2000)
Nadeau v. Nadeau
716 A.2d 717 (Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1998)
In Re the Relationship of Henry
951 P.2d 135 (Oregon Supreme Court, 1997)
T.H. v. A.S.
938 S.W.2d 910 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1997)
In Re SM
938 S.W.2d 910 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1997)
Payne v. Weker
917 S.W.2d 201 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1996)
Sheila L. Ex Rel. Ronald M.M. v. Ronald P.M.
465 S.E.2d 210 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1995)
State Ex Rel. Wilson v. Brown
897 S.W.2d 171 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
835 S.W.2d 386, 1992 Mo. App. LEXIS 959, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/glanzner-v-state-department-of-social-services-division-of-child-support-moctapp-1992.